The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-02-19

his return TO jamestown.
Pokahontas having thus made her
entrance upon the scene, frequently re-
appears from that time forward, for
about two years, and, after an intermis.
sion, more prominently still. The set
tiers were suffering greatly for food
owing to their improvidence and the in
capacity of their rulers. This fact COM
ing to the knowledge of Pokahontas,
who lived fourteen miles distant only,
she appeared at jamestown, with party
OF Indians, carrying baskets of corn, and
venison, probably, on their shoulders, a
succor so important that contemporary
writer, who was present, declares that it
preserved the lives of many about to die
of famine.
Pokahontas afterwards came back every
four or five days, accompanied by an
escort of Indians, bringing food, it SCENE,
as before; and Smiths subsequent state
ment in London was that, without this
food, and that supplied afterwards, the
Virginia settlement would have been
abandoned. These facts appear to be
well established by the published tes-
timony of persons then at jamestown,
and raise the interesting question, What
induced the Indian girl thus persistently
to aid them?
1t is necessary to conclude that she
assisted the strangers and enemies OF her
own people, either from native goodness
Of heart, and sympathy for them in their
distress and suffering, or from personal
interest in Smith. The first explanation
is credible from general view of her
character; but the second is apt to suggest
itself, after consideration of all the
facts, as the more probable. Many pas
sages in the uncouth records seem to in
dictate that peculiar relations existed be-
tween them-on his part of gratitude, and
on her own feeling much more roman.
tic. One of the incidents OF the time was
Smiths release of some Indian thieves at
her request, for her sake only" and the
expressions employed long afterwards by
Pokshontas in London, seem to leave
little doubt in reference to her own feel
ings.
The general conception of Pokahontas
is 30 vague and underlined, that it is de-
s;rable to ascertain the precise particulars
recorded of her. Her courage, tender
ness and devotion have never been de-
MED. What was she personally? From
the reports of her contemporaries we de-
derive these traits relating to her. Her
face was attractive, to an extent at least,
exceeding any of the rest" of the In
dian girls. As Smith adds that she had
"a great spirit, however her stature"
her figure was probably slight; beyond
which there is no more testimony, except
that the English courtiers declared her
to be "well favored" The stiff portrait
taken of her in London determines little,
except that her face was pleasant. Her
manners were characterized as graceful
and full of dignity by the English writ
ers, who said that she carried herself "as
the daughter of king"
Leaving for moment the detail of
events, let us consider the personnel of
Smith. He was at this time twenty-eight,
and seems, from his portrait, gallant and
handsome. His manners are said to have
been mild and cordial, though his temper
was irascible; and the circumstances of
his first acquaintance with Pokahontas
on the York were we'll calculated to ex.
cite romantic interest in him. Nothing
was more probable than that such an in
terest should have been avowed in Polka
hontas. The question is, whether the
records contain any evidence on the sub
ject, or any statements pointing to the
inference that she became romantically
attached to him. We have only the
assurance that he might have married
her; but setting that aside as vague
statement of uncertain meaning, there
are several known incidents that carry
strong moral evidence with them.
To understand the bearing of these in
cidents, it is necessary to look to the
dates. The capture of Smith took place
in December, 1907; he was permitted to
return to jamestown in January; and it
was throughout the winter and spring of
1908 that Pokahontas proved herself the
guardian angel of the starving colonists
by bringing them food. Nothing is said
of her relations with Smith dnring this
period, but they must necessarily have
seen a great deal of each other; and in
the winter of the same year Pokahontas
exhibited an unmistakable interest in his
welfare.
The colony was again famine stricken,
and Smith sailed for York, with an armed
party, to trade for corn. But Powhatan
was unwilling to trade, laid trap for
the destruction of the English, and moth
ing saved them but the courage and de-
votion of Pokahontas. She came alone
through the darkness and cold of the
winter night, to warn Smith that he was
about to be attacked; and when he offered
her some coveted trinket to show his
gratitude, she refused it with tears in her
eyes, telling him that Powhatan would
kill her if he saw her wearing it. The re.
suit of this brave act was, that Smith and
his men were found ready, and the attack
was not made; an attack which he after
wards stated must have ended in his de-